The upper story in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is very dense in most places. As a
result, streams and deep valleys are often shaded, even when bright sun falls on the tree tops
above. This photo was made on just such a day in early autumn. The birch and beech leaves
high above the stream bed had begun to don their autumn coats of yellow, but other
deciduous species were still cloaked primarily in green; both were brightly back lit by a bright
afternoon sun. The low light conditions at stream level required a long exposure which served
to emphasize the reflection of the colors above, especially in the smooth water stretches of
Lynn Camp Prong below. I made several exposures of this scene, utilizing differing
compositions. This more abstract version is my personal favorite from the afternoon's
shooting.